SURPRISE! Gas Industry Trying To Stop Common-Sense Legislation That Would Save Families Money

ALBANY, NY (03/26/2025) (readMedia)-- Today, fossil fuel lobbyists rallied with their friendly Republican lawmakers to beg Albany to stop the NY HEAT Act, legislation that would save struggling families money by ending ratepayer subsidies of the outdated fossil fuel industry. The NY HEAT Act is a common-sense energy affordability bill that would amend the expensive, outdated mandate to serve fracked gas. The bill would lower skyrocketing utility bills happening across the state and save the people who need it most an average of $136 every month. Now, gas executives and their friends are urging Albany to do nothing and continue letting them price gouge New Yorkers.

"1.2 million families in New York can't afford their energy bills, but a bunch of suits came to Albany today to say: no problem! In their world, it's okay that families can't afford their basic needs. It's up to Assembly Members to decide which side they're on: Pass the NY HEAT Act and save New York families an average of $136 every month on their energy bills, or protect the corporations destroying the planet while making New Yorkers go broke," said John Raskin, President of Spring Street Climate Fund.

Since 2022, every major gas utility in New York State has raised the cost of energy for their customers:

• For Con Edison customers, the average monthly cost of gas heating has increased by nearly $50 since 2022 - from $205 to $253.
• For National Grid customers in NYC, the average monthly cost of gas heating has increased by more than $60 between 2023 and 2026 - from $110 to $172. For National Grid customers in Long Island, the average monthly cost of gas heating will increase by nearly the same amount - from $105 to $165.
• For Central Hudson customers, the average monthly cost of gas heating has increased more than $20 since 2022- from $138 to $157.
• For National Fuel Gas customers, the average monthly cost of gas heating has increased by nearly $15 - from $81 to $94 - since just 2023.

Last week, hundreds of New Yorkers rallied with elected officials in Albany to demand the Assembly deliver relief for families in need by passing the NY HEAT Act in this year's budget.

BACKGROUND

The Home Energy Affordable Transition Act, also known as the NY HEAT Act, will reduce the expansion of New York's outdated and dangerous fracked gas system and save the 1 in 4 New Yorkers who struggle to pay their energy bills an average of $136 every month. The bill modernizes archaic state laws that force New Yorkers to pay hundreds of millions of dollars each year to subsidize new fracked gas hookups and pipelines. It would limit households' energy burdens and would allow utilities to provide cheaper and clean heating alternatives at no additional cost to customers – a win-win for New Yorkers and the environment.

The NY HEAT Act will also free New Yorkers from the gas mandate (also known as "the utility obligation to serve gas"), an antiquated state law that locks utilities, and consequently the vast majority of New Yorkers, into the dirty, expensive, aging gas system for heat. Because of the gas mandate, one home that wants to stay on the gas system can be the deciding factor for an entire neighborhood that would otherwise have the opportunity to receive cheaper, cleaner heating alternatives from their utility. The NY HEAT Act would require utilities to provide easy access to the most affordable and healthier heating options for their families.

According to a Siena Poll, New Yorkers agree by an overwhelming 58% to 26% that the legislature should pass the NY HEAT Act. Support for the NY HEAT Act is popular across party lines, with 67% of Democrats, 47% of Republicans, and 55% of independents agreeing it should pass. The bill is also popular with 60% of upstate voters, 55% of union households, and across income groups. 74% of Black voters and 70% of Latino voters also support the legislation. An even larger share, 51 - 17%, said that lawmakers did not do enough to improve the quality of life during last year's legislative session.

State action against climate change is crucial as Trump takes office and vows to go all-in on fossil fuels. 2024 was the hottest year on record, and New Yorkers experienced wildfires, flooding, and tornadoes. The NY HEAT Act will help New York fight climate change and it will protect New Yorkers from an unpredictable Trump administration by helping to stabilize heat and energy prices.